Switch-actuating mechanism.



G. W. FISHER & F. HOYLAND.

SWITCH ACTUATING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1912.

1,090,467. Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

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Vw ffm COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co..wAsH|NG-roN. DA c.

LIX-WWW G. W. FISHER & F. HOYLAND.

SWITCH AGTUATING MBCHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNI; 21, 1912.

1,090,467. Patented 11211111914.

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210 #Tf/g2 coLUMBM PLANOGRAPH CD.. WASHINGTON. nA c.

SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

Application filed J une 21, 1912. Serial N o. 705,104.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE W. FISI-IER and FREDERICK HOYLAND, citizens of the United States, residing atJackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Actuating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switches, and particularly to switch-stands, and the invention has for its primary object an improved mechanism of this character, simple in construction, reasonable in price, durable, not liable to get'out of order and fuliilling to a marked degree the requirements of present date standard railway equipment which requires that the switch points shall be locked in their position; that there must be no springs used in any track connection; that the points must be so arranged as to preclude injury if a train runs through a switch; that the switch must be on the center after being thrown, and that the rails or switch points must be held by the locking device, notwithstanding the fact that any signal connected thereto is knocked down, j

l/Vith these and other objects in view, as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain arrangements, constructions and combinations of the parts that we shall hereinafter describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in one posit-ion; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 8 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the main rail shifting plate; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism; Fig. 7 is a view of the plate blank detached; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of the adjoining ends of the sections of the locking bar.

Corresponding andlike parts are referred to inV the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates switch points which may be of any -desired type and construction, and 2 designates a switch bar which is connected to the switch points, said switch bar being extended transversely beyond the track and pivotally connected, as at 3, to the transversely extending switch actuating bar 4 of our improved mechanism. The bar 4 passes freely through openings 5 formed for it in the sides 6 of the switch stand, being preferably supported in its transverse reciprocating movements by straps 7 connected in any desired way to the sides 6 of the stand and deining the bottoms of the openingsl 5.

The actuating bar 4 is formed intermediate of its ends with an upwardly projecting stud 8 preferably carrying a friction reducing roller or collar 9, said stud being accommodated in a slot 10 formed in a switch actuating slide plate 11 mounted for movement substantially longitudinally relative to the track in guide ways 12 formed on the sides of the switch stand. The precise formation of the slot 10 and the particularI objects of such formationand the several functions of said slot in connection with the stud 8 will be hereinafter fully described.

The plate 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending relatively narrow bar 13 which is formed with an upstanding apertured lug 14 in which a laterally `extending pin 15 is mounted and held, said pin being pivotally connected by a longitudinally eX- tending link rod 16 to a wrist pin 17 which is carried by a switch lever 18. The switch lever 18 is fulcrumed between standards 19 projecting upwardly from the switch stand at one end thereof, and is-provided at its relatively free end with a laterally projecting handle 20.

A locking bar `21 is pivotally connected at one end to an arm 22 projecting downwardly from the lower face of the actuating plate 11, said locking bar passing longitudinally through the switch stand underneath the switch operating bar 4, and guided at its free end in an opening 23 formed for it in a bearing 9.4 which is formed on and that projects upwardly from the switch stand, as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

The locking bar 21 is designed to co-act with a safety lock in the form of a bar 25 which is pivotally connected at one end as at 26 to a bar E27 extending transversely of and connected to the switch points 1, and the other end of the bar 25 projects transversely underneath the bar 21 and through a transverse opening 28 formed in the bearing 24 at right angles to the opening 23. rlhe bar 25 is provided in its upper edge with spaced locking notches 29 and 30.

Describing now, at this point, the general operation of the switch throwing and locking mechanism, attention is first directed to the slot that is formed in the actuating slide plate 11. This slot is formed with two transversely extending end portions 31 and 32, diagonally disposed longitudinally extending portions 33 and 34 leading toward each other from the end portions 31, and an oblique middle portion 35 which joins the portions 33 and 34, of which the side or bounding walls constitute a cam or wedge surface. fact that the locking bar 21 is formed in its lower edge with a recess 36. Now, assuming the parts to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that the switch points 1 are locked by the locking engagement of the bar 21 in the notch 29 of the bar 25. As therswitch lever 18 is swung over, it is manifest that the plate 11 will be moved in a direction to cause the stud 8 to be received in the longitudinal portion'33 of the slot 10. So long as this portion 33 of said slot is moved along the stud 8, no movement will be imparted to the switch points 1, but the locking bar 21 which is carried by the plate 11 will be moved longitudinally, so as to bring the recess 36 toward the bar 25. In this movement of the plate 11, the recess 36 will reach the farthest side face of the bar 25 just an instant before the oblique middle portion 35 of the slot 10 reaches the stud 8, whereupon the bar 25will be released from the bar 21 and the further movement of the plate 11 will cause the stud 8 to move laterally and thereby effect the shifting of the switch points. As the movement of the plate 11 is continued in the same direction, the stud 8 will be received in the longitudinal portion 35 of the slot 10, and the accompanying lateral ino-vement of the bar 25 will bring the notch 30 of said bar into locking engagement with the bar 21, so as to lock the switch points, the said movement of the plate 11 reaching its limit when the stud 8 finally brings up at the intersection of the median lines of the portions 32 and 34 of the slot 10. From the foregoing, a reverse movement of the parts to shift the switch points back again to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 will be at once apparent, and no further description thereof is deemed necessary.

Itis to be observed that the formation and disposition of the end portions 31 and 32 of the slot 10 provide transversely elongated spaces between the points where the stud 8 is locked at the limits of movement of the plate Attention is also directed to the 11 and the farther ends of such portions, these spaces being provided for a purpose which will now be described.

Transversely sliding blocks 37 are mounted on the plate 11 for transverse movement over the end portions 31 and 32 of the slot 10.k Each of these blocks is formed with spaced lugs 38 projecting down into the corresponding portion of the'slot and designed to receive between them the stud 8 at the limit of movement of the latter. Each of said blocks is further formed with an end wedge 39 normally engaging the adjoining ends of two longitudinally alined pliable pins 40 secured in any desired way to the upper face of the plate 11, and extending longitudinally thereof, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. Should the switch be run through, after being locked, the studV 8 will manifestly, owing to its location between the lugs 38 of one of the blocks 37, cause said block to move laterally along the adjoining end portion of the slot 10, and the wedge 39 of said blocks will force back the adjoining ends of the pins 40 so as to avc-id any injury to theswitch actuating mechanism, the said block being caught and a return movement thereof being prevented by the bent ends of the pins 40 engaging over shoulders 41 formed on the block. To restore the parts to normal condition after the rswitch has been run through, it is only necessary to withdraw the bent pins 40, after having first moved the block back again to its initial position.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation p of our improved combined switch and signaling mechanism will be apparent.

In the practical use of the mechanism supposing the parts to be in tions illustrated in Fig. 1, a movement ofthe switch lever 18 to the left will slide the plate 11 in a direction to first unlock the switch points, and a continued movement of the plate 11 will shift the switch points, the Vfinal movement of the plate eecting the locking of the switch points in their shifted position and at the same time actuating the signal mechanism as described in our former application iiled on the twentieth day of J anuary, 1912,Serial No. 672,407.

Preferably, the locking bar 25 is constructed so that if the switch is run through, no permanent injury will be inflicted upon the parts of the locking mechanism. To this end, it is constructed in sections one of which is formed with a yole42 receiving the adjoining end of the other section for a sliding movement therein, such end `being the relative posi- Y formed with a protuberance 43 normally held in between transverse pins 44 that are received at -their ends between shoulders 442L formed on said yoke. The pins are so formed that they will bend or yield when excessive strain is imposed upon the bar 25 so as to permit a longitudinal movement of one section of said bar relative to the other and avoid the liability of breaking the bar or of straining its connections. After excessive strain has been imposed upon the bar 25 and the pins 44 bent to compensate for such strain, the parts may be easily shifted to their normal positions and new pins substituted for the damaged ones.

lVhere our improved switch is used on' a cross-over and in other circumstances,

it is oftentimes desirable to provide means for automatically locking the switch after a train gets within a certain distance of the crossover, and also to provide in connection therewith means for unlocking the switch so that the switch may be shifted on emergency even while the train is near or standing close to the switch. 7e accomplish this first-named object by providing a battery 45 disposed at any desired distance from the cross-over and connected by a track circuit to an electro-magnet 46 placed on the top of the portion of that side of the switch-stand which forms a guide for the main or moving plate 11. This electro-magnet has an armature 47 on the lower side, the armature being shown as pivot-ally mounted and being coun terbalanced at one end.

Carried by the other end of the armature is a plunger 48 which passes down through an opening in the guide, this plunger being hinged to the armature so that it may move freely up and down. The plunger is adapt ed when depressed to project into a perfora tion in-the plate 11, pinning the plate and guide together and eifectually locking the switch. Normally, and when no train is within a predetermined distance from the switch, the current flows through the magnet and holds the end of the armature having the plunger up, butrwhen a train gets within the limits of the battery, current flows through the wheels, axles etc. and less through the magnets and therefore the armature drops and allows the plunger to pin the slide and the stand on which it is mounted together.

ln order to accomplish the second object, that is, to provide means whereby the switch may be shifted on an emergency while a train is near or standing close to the switch and within the radius of the battery, a releasing member 4is provided designated 49 which engages the free end of the armature. By raising up on this releasing member, the armature is raised, carrying with it the plunger and unlocking the switch. The magnet and armature are connected within the casing 50, the releasing member 49 projecting out through said casing. It will be understood that where this stand and this locking device are applied to a cross-over, both crossover switches are equipped with the locking device.

Having thus described the invention, what. we claim as new is v n 1. An apparatus of the character described, including switch points, a switch actuating bar, connected thereto, a plate formed with an angular slot, the switch actuating bar being provided with a stud accommodated in said slot, the slot embodying transversely extending portions and an intermediate oblique portion, and yielding means adapted to engage the stud in either of said laterally extending portions so as to permit the switch actuating bar to yield upon the switch being run through.

2. An apparatus of the character described, including switch points, a switch actuating bar connected thereto and provided with a stud, an actuating plate formed with a slot accommodating said stud, said slot including laterally extending portions and an intermediate oblique portion, and blocks yieldingly held in the transverse portions of the slot and designed for engagement by said stud, for the purpose speciiied. n 3. An apparatus of the character described, including switch points, a switch actuating bar connected thereto and provided with a stud, a plate formed with a slot accommodating said stud, said slot embodying laterally extending portions and an intermediate oblique portion, blocks movable over the laterally extending portions of the slot and formed with lugs adapted to embrace said stud, and pliable pins secured to the plate and extending across the slot and engageable by said lugs, for the purpose specified.

4. An apparatus of the character described, including switch points, a switch operating bar connected thereto and provided with a stud, an actuating plate formed with a slot accommodating said stud, the slot embodying laterally extending portions and an intermediate oblique portion, pins secured to the plate and extending across said transverse portion of the slot, and blocks movable over said transverse portions and engageable by the stud, said blocks engaging the pins and formed with shoulders for the purpose specified.

5. An apparatus of the character described, including switch points, a switch operating bar connected thereto and pro vided witha stud, an actuating plate formed with a slot accommodating said stud, means for moving said plate, the slot of said plate including an oblique portion, for the purpose specified, a locking bar connected to the switch points, and a co-acting locking bar carried by the plate and engageable with the first-named locking bar, means being provided whereby the initial movement of the plate will release the locking bars from their lil@ interlocking connection and whereby the final movement of said plate will again effect the interlocking engagement between said bars.

6. An apparatus of the character described, including switch points,-means for throwing said switch points, including an actuating' plate, a locking bar pivotally connected to said plate and movable therewith and formed in one edge with a recess, a coacting locking bar connected to the switch points and movable therewith, and extending transversely of the first-named locking bar in engagement therewith, the secondnamed locking bar being formed with spaced notches in which the first-named locking bar is adapted to ride, the parts being so pro-portioned that in the initial movement of said plates, preparatory to effecting the movement of the switch points by said plate, the recessed portion oi" the first-named locking bar will register with the second-named locking bar so as to release the interlocking engagement of thc two bars, for the purpose specified.

7. An apparatus of the character described, including switch points, a switch operating bar connected thereto, an actuating plate, said plate being formed with a slot, and the bar being' provided with a stud accommodated in said slot, the slot embodying longitudinally extending portions and an intermediate oblique portion, and point locking devices arranged to interlock, one of them being carried by the said plate, the parts being so proportioned that the point locking devices will be automatically released during the initial movement of the plate while the stud is received in one longitudinally extending' portion of the slot will be held unlocked while the stud is received in the intermediate oblique portion of the slot and will be subsequent-ly locked while the stud is received in the other longitudinal portion of the slot.

8. An apparatus ot the character described including track rails, a source of current connected to the track rails, switch points, a switch actuating bar connected thereto and provided with a stud, an actuating plate formed with a stop accommodating said stud, guides in which the actuating plate is mounted, a locking plunger coacting with the plate, means shifting the locking plunger into engagement with the plate, and an electromagnet coacting with the plunger and when energized holding said plunger raised and out of engagement with the' plate, said` electro magnet being connected in circuit with the track rails.

9. In apparatus of the character described, track rails, a source of electrical energy connected to said track rails, switch points, a shiftable member connected to the track rails to shi-ft therewith, a plunger engageable with said shiftable member to lock it in one position, Van electro-magnet connected in circuit with the track rails and through them to thev source ofenergy, and means actuated by an energizing of the electromagnet for holding said plunger raised.

lO. In apparatus of the character vdescribed, track rails, a source` of electrical energy connected to said track rails, switch points, a shiftable member co-nnected'to the track rails to shift therewith, a plunger engageable with said shiftable member to lock it in one position, an electro-magnet connected in circuit with the track rails and through them to the source of energy, means actuated by an energizing of the electroniagnet for holding said plunger' raised, and

means for mamially lifting the plunger.

ll. The combination with track rails connected in circuit with a. source of energy and switch points, of a member manually movable with the switch points and having a perforation, a plunger engaging said pertoration to hold the member from movement, a magnet connected in circuit with the track and energized from the source of electrical energy, a pivoted armature connected with the magnet and upon the free end of which the plunger is mounted, and a rod extending from the armature whereby it may be manually operated.

In testimony whereof we our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE lV. FISHER. FREDERICK HOYLAND.

7Witnesses FRANK E. SAUER, PETE J. TIRCHMEISTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. v 

